It was over £100 million on the line for his Swansea side in the English Premiership Play-Off Final.

Despite one contest taking place at London’s Wembley Stadium and the other in the middle of The Negev Desert in Israel, there are strong comparisons.

And, when Scott Sinclair hit a hat-trick to help Rodgers claim a 4-2 win over Reading and win a place for the Welsh in the top-flight south of the border, it was an indication that dealing with big pressure matches and throat-drying occasions are not an issue for the Celtic boss.

His Parkhead programme notes every matchday end with the words no fear and that’s exactly the mantra which will be carried by the manager and his charges into this do-or-die decider.

Rodgers said: “There are big rewards. The differences in this game between winning and losing are very marginal.

The consequences are massive, but you can’t afford to think if the consequences or you wouldn’t do it.

“I remember going into one of my earliest games, the play-off final which was deemed the £100 million game between Swansea and Reading.

“That is a life-changing game. As a coach, if you get through, you get to the Premier League, your career takes off, the players become in a much better position financially, so these types of games are important.

“I stood and spoke to Brian McDermott [Reading boss] for a while about his feelings, because I felt for him, it could have been myself.

Griffiths rushes over to a beaming Brendan Rodgers after putting Celtic 2-0 up

“Yeah you know the occasion, you know it’s a big game.

“But there are various times in your life and career as a football coach and a manager that games come upon you that mean so much.

“I think everyone recognises that because of the hardship of the last few years, it’s been three years since the club’s been in the Champions League and for everyone it means a lot.

“But if you think too much on the emotive side you would drive yourself mad.

“You just have to focus on the process of winning and getting through.

“That’s all I’ve ever done. When we lost the first game of qualification I said just said: Stay calm.

“It’s about staying calm and getting through, and it’s the same thing now.”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers flashes a smile

Rodgers’ cooling outlook is admirable.

However, there is no chance of him underplaying the potential achievement.

Much of the reason why he was taken to Celtic Park in the first place was the inadequate efforts of previous boss Ronny Deila to match the club’s European heritage with performances and results.

Forget the money for a second. Celtic feel as though they need Champions League involvement to justify their status across the continent.

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Rodgers was in a similar movie when handed the reigns at Liverpool in 2012.

He explained: “This is about prestige. The money is irrelevant.

“Of course, the bonus for the club, the bonus for all clubs, is the financial package you can get in the Champions League and everything which comes with it.

The Green Brigade show off a stunning display for Brendan Rodgers (Image: Daily Record)

“For myself and the players it is about operating at the highest level you can.

“It was the same when I went to Liverpool, they hadn’t been in the Champions League for five-odd seasons and, when I went in there, the club was eighth in the league and had got close to winning the league once in 20 years.

“I signed a three year deal and my primary objective was to get the club to the Champions League and we did it in two years.

“Then we went on a wonderful journey of football and intensity and it was great, so I have been brought in here to get to the Champions League and, if I can do it in three months, I’ll be happy.

“I was aware of that [Celtic’s need] anyway. It wasn’t something that was nailed to me.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and Inter Milan manager Frank de Boer before the game (Image: Reuters)

“I think we are all clever enough to understand what the objectives are. To qualify for the Champions League, which is not easy.

“And to win the Scottish league. These are objectives we have set ourselves.”

Rodgers, of course, could barely have bought a better position to launch his bid for achievement.

The 5-2 first-leg win six days ago in Glasgow has his team in pole position and massive favourites to progress.

Celtic will still have to deal with tense moments in Israel, but the manager refuses to entertain any form of trepidation.

He said: “There is nothing to fear. If you look for problems, they are just around the corner.

“There are plenty of them, but, if you are positive and approach life in that way, then normally you will feel much happier in yourself.

Brendan Rodgers

“I always think happy people win.

“If you look for issues or whatever, they will always be there but I’ve progress quickly in my coaching life by always being positive. If that can rub off on people and players, so be it.

“We’ll have to be cute and clever. You can’t go all guns blazing, but we haven’t done that in any of the games.

“We have always had the balance. If you look at the goals we’ve conceded in the last couple of games, we’ve had a breakaway from a corner and one where the pitch was stretched last week. We’ve actually defended very well.

“We got into it with a game plan. The intensity of our game is a key strengthen ours.

“We won’t move too far from our idea because I think, hopefully, even at this early part of the season, we are a team that is offensively dangerous.”